Engel met kind aan de hand 1683

Sébastien Leclerc I created this delicate etching of an angel guiding a child in the 17th century. Dominating the composition, the winged angel is a powerful symbol, not merely of divine guidance, but of humanity's yearning for protection and transcendence. We can see the iconography of the angel, a figure that bridges the earthly and the divine, appears across cultures and eras, echoing in ancient Mesopotamian art and lingering even in contemporary works. Here, the angel raises a hand, bathed in divine light, a gesture reminiscent of classical orators and, indeed, ancient deities bestowing blessings. Consider the motif of the guiding hand, an echo of the classical Roman tradition of the "dextra iunctio," the joining of hands in marriage, symbolizing trust and fidelity. Over time, this gesture has evolved to signify protection, as we see here. This image speaks to our collective unconscious, a visual language that stirs deep within us, reminding us of our hopes for safety and spiritual ascent. The symbolic journey is cyclical; these motifs resurface, transformed, yet still resonant with their primal power.